Gagliole Valletta Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

Gagliole Valletta Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

The ruby red with the special fermentation method

Half of the Valletta Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT is made from the autochthonous Sangiovese grape variety, in this case the grapes come from the vineyards around Gagliole, and the other half from the international Merlot grape variety, which grows on La Valletta. After being harvested by hand, the Sangiovese grapes are placed in large oak barrels for vinification. In very good vintages, the Merlot is vinified using a special process in unique barriques from Tonnellerie Baron in France - using the "vinification intègrale" method. In other words, the grapes are placed in these special oak barriques for both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. In addition, the barrels are turned several times a day to ensure regular contact between the juice, skins, seeds and wood. In contrast to conventional fermentation methods, the temperature in the barrel is lower and very constant. 16 months of ageing in new and used barriques and at least six months of bottle ageing result in a wine that is an intense ruby red in the glass. The nose impresses with a complex and captivating aromatic potpourri of ripe, black fruits intermingled with liquorice, spicy notes and tobacco. Silky and dense on the palate with a hint of coffee and dark chocolate. But you should have a little patience with the Valletta: Four to six years of rest will be rewarded with absolute drinking pleasure.

Antico Podere Gagliole: A Swiss family-owned winery in Tuscany

Considering the high quality wines produced at Gagliole today, it is surprising that the Bär-Bettschart family, owners of Gagliole, only decided to produce and market wine under their own label around ten years ago. The family bought the estate back in 1990 and initially leased the vineyards to other wineries. However, as their connection to the land and its people and their love of wine grew, so did their desire to cultivate the land and produce wine themselves. And so it came about that Thomas Bär even expanded the family estate in Tuscany in 2011 to include another vineyard with around ten hectares of land: La Valletta in Panzano in Chianti now completes the Bär-Bettschart family estate.

Castellina and Panzano: vineyards in prime locations and of the highest quality

The Antico Podere Gagliole wine estate now has 20 hectares of top vineyards. Ten of these are located in the immediate vicinity of the winery in Castellina: the vineyards in Gagliole are laid out in terraces - just as was common practice in Tuscany in the past. The terraces are planted alternately with olive trees and rose bushes, which ensures an ecological balance as well as an interplay between sun and shade for the vines. The soils around Gagliole in Castellina are Galestro, which produces mineral, elegant wines. The vineyards on La Valletta are located in the famous Conca d'Oro, at the upper edge of the shell-shaped valley. Sunny views for the vines and at the same time regular cooling, as there is always a gentle breeze up here. The vines here are between two and 45 years old.

Swiss precision and Italian tradition united under compass and balance beam

At Gagliole, Swiss precision meets Italian tradition! And under the conditions of this ideal blend, red and white wines of the highest quality are pressed. First and foremost - as the basis of the range, so to speak - is the Chianti Classico Rubiolo, which consists of 90 percent Sangiovese and ten percent Merlot. An outstanding red wine in the range is the Valletta Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT. It is made from a 50:50 ratio of Sangiovese and Merlot grapes. Another red in the range is the Gagliole Toscana IGT, all of whose grapes come from La Valletta in Panzano - namely 90 percent Sangiovese and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. A top red wine is undoubtedly the Pecchia Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, the one hundred percent Sangiovese from Panzano, which is produced using the "Vinificazione integrale" method - and only with grapes from the very best vintages. Gagliole also has two excellent white wines in its range: the light, fruity Biancolo, which is made from half Trebbiano and half Chardonnay grapes. And then there is the somewhat stronger Il Bianco. The grape varieties Chardonnay, Malvasia and Procanico, a clone of the Trebbiano grape variety, are used for this. The grapes from these vines, which are around 45 years old and all grow on the terraces around Gagliole in Castellina, are characterized by a particularly thick skin. The product range is rounded off with an excellent extra virgin olive oil, which is pressed in the company's own mill.

In Italy, in the region Tuscany, in the region Chianti Classico, in Panzano in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti

Monika and Thomas Bär-Bettschart

Giulio Carmassi

A total of 20 ha, of which 10 ha in Castellina in Chianti and 10 ha in Panzano in Chianti

Conglomerate

South, Southwest

450 - 480 meters above sea level.

5,000 vines per ha

Cordon